Page 433 The Thessalians seeing him mount up so fast, and in so short time, began to be jealous of the growth of his Power, and the heat of his Ambition.
But in the mean time there arose such a Sedition, follow'd with such Butcheries in Argos, that the like had never been before in any of the Cities of Greece: Which new and unheard of Cruelty was call'd by the GreciansScytalism, from the manner of the slaughter Committed. And the Cause of the Tumult was this: Argos was Govern'd by a Democracy; The Orators, and those that affected Popularity, stirr'd up the Mob against the great Men of the City; which caus'd them for their own preservation, (and to free themselves from the false accusations that were prosecuted against them) to Plot and Contrive how to overturn the Democratical Government. And when some who were suspected were call'd in question, others fearing they should be put to the Rack, Murder'd themselves. For One in the height of his Torments Confess'd, and Accus'd Thirty of the greatest Men of the City to be in the Conspiracy; upon which the People (without any further Trial,) Knockt them all on the Head, and Confiscated their Estates. And whereas there were many others seiz'd upon suspition of the Plot (and the false Accusations manag'd against them by the Orators, with all the aggravationâ–Ş imaginable) the People were so enrag'd, that whoever were accus'd (of whom there was a vast number, and all very Rich) were Condemn'd to Death; so that there were Executed above Sixteen hundred of the greatest and most powerful Men of the City: Neither were the Orators themselves spar'd; for when they slack'd in the Prosecution of the Calumnies (because they were afraid left some sudden mischief would overtake them by reason of the extraordinary Cruelties that were Committed) the People concluded that they had deserted their Cause, which put them into such a ferment of Rage and Fury, that they kill'd all the Orators that were then in the City; which seem'd to be Executed upon them by the Hand of some revenging Deity, as a reward of their Villanies. After the Tumult was ceas'd, the People return'd to their former quiet, and paeceable dispositions.
About this time Lycomedes of Tegeata perswaded the Arcadians to join together in one Body of a Commonwealth and to Constitute a General Council, consisting of Ten thousand Men, who should have absolute power to Determine all matters relating both to War and Peace. But a Tumult hapning among the Arcadians, the controversie was decided by the Sword; many being kill'd, and above Fourteen hundred Banish'd, some to Sparta, others to Pallantium. Those that fled to the Pallantines were by them deliver'd up into the hands of their Enemies, who cut all their Throats. The other put on the Lacademonians to make an Inroad into Arcadia: Upon which, Agesilaus King of Sparta with an Army made up of the Citizens and Exiles, broke into the Territories of Tageata, because they were look't upon to be the Fomenters of all the Broils and Banishments amongst the Arcadians, and wasted and spoil'd the Country, which together with a strait Siege laid to the City, greatly terrifi'd the Arcadians.
While these things were acting, Jason who rul'd at Phercae (a Man excellently well vers'd in Military Affairs) who had now many of the Neighbouring Countries for his Confederates, perswaded the Thessalians to end eavour to gain the Sovereignty of Greece to themselves. For he alledg'd that whoever would Fight for it, might now gain it as a reward of their Valour. For that it was evident that the Lacedemonians were miserably Ruin'd at Leuctra; and the Athenians were only Masters at Sea, and the Thebans far unworthy of such a Dignity; and in Conclusion, that the Argives had weaken'd themselves with their own Civil Dissentions, and bloody Broils. Upon this, the Thessalians made Jason General of all their Forces, and Committed to him the whole Management of the War, who having now receiv'd the Supream Command, March'd into some of the neighbouring Countries, and enter'd into a League with Amyntas King of Macedonia.
This Year there happen'd what was very remarkable; For Three great Princes Di'd near one and the same time, Amyntas the Son of Tharrhaleus (after he had Reign'd in Macedon Four and twenty Years) dy'd, leaving behind him three Sons, Alexander, Perdiccas and Philip. Alexander Succeeded, but Reign'd but one Year. Then Agesipolis King of Lacedemon after one Year's Reign dy'd likewise: His Brother Cleomenes succeeded him, and sat at the Helm Four and thirty Years. At last Jason of Pherae, whom the Thessalians had lately made their General (tho' he Govern'd with great Moderation and Kindness towards his Subjects) was Assassinated by Seven young Men, as Ephorus says, who (in hopes of Praise and Commendation) had Conspir'd for that purpose: But others write that he was Murther'd by his Brother Polydore, who Reign'd not above one Year after him. Here Durius the Samian begins his History of the Affairs of Greece. And these were the things done this Year.
The Histories of Herodotus written in 440 BC is considered to be the founding work of history in Western literature. His history included stories and fables but he claimed to have traveled extensively and learned about many countries through direct observation.
The thesis of Stolen Legacy is that the Egyptians created what is wrongly called Greek philosophy. Dr. James argues that the African origin of Greek Philosophy is well known but rarely discussed. Ancient Greek historians such as Herodotus and Diodorus the Sicilian wrote in significant detail about the contributions of Egypt. Egyptian technology and libraries were unmatched and Greek philosophers such as Pythagoras and Plato studied there. The contribution of Africa to the intellectual foundation of modern knowledge is tremendous but unacknowledged.
The Library of History by Diodorus the Sicilian is one of the most highly regarded universal histories in antiquities. His work includes the history of Egypt, Asia, Africa, Greece and Europe. His book is a must read for research of ancient history.
Bible Study The King James Bible (kjv), World English Bible (web) and Bible in Basic English (bbe) are all examples of public domain books. The King James Bible (kjv) online uses the content from these books and open source software to enhance Bible study capabilities. The site includes the verse of the day, search tools, christian literature and links to related content. It demonstrates the use of open source to create a valuable service.